with me."

All the time Will was talking Bet walked faster and faster. When he
had done speaking, however, she had relaxed her steps. They had reached
a comparatively deserted place, and, to his surprise and ecstasy, Will
felt her lay a timid hand on his arm.

"But I don't love you," she said, sorrowfully.

"You wouldn't want to mate with a girl what didn't love you, Will."

Will caught her hand and held it tightly between both his own.

"There's nought that I mind, except to be a bit of use to you just
now, Bet," he said. "You are the lonest lass in this city, and it would
be a sight better for you to be wed to me. You ain't afeard, are you?
I'll be faithful to you to my dying day, and we have known each other
since we were little tots."

"Yes," said Bet, slowly, "and mother liked you, and you can sing fit
to wile any lass' heart away; but I don't love you, Will, and I swore
long ago that I'd never, never wed."

"You'd never wed?" repeated Will. "There's more lads than me would
have a word to say agin that. You ask twenty honest fellows who has
the straightest step and bonniest face in the town, and they'd say
fast enough it was Bet Granger. You are but joking me when you talk
in that fashion, Bet."

"No, Will, it is true. It's a vow I made, and it's my way not to go